Trump calls coronavirus the Democrats' 'new hoax' as more cases are confirmed

Plus: Tonight's contest in South Carolina is seen as a test of how candidates are doing with African American voters—and their chances going into Super Tuesday. Stay tuned to MSNBC. [View in browser]( [Image]( FEBRUARY 29, 2020 [Image] South Carolina voters stand in line for early voting at the Richland County Election Commission Feb. 27, 2020 in Columbia, S.C. | Photo by Sean Rayford, Getty Images Tonight's contest in South Carolina is seen as a test of how candidates are doing with African American voters—and their chances going into Super Tuesday. Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders lead most polls, but the exact outcome of Saturday’s elections is [anyone’s guess](. [Writes NBC's Jonathan Allen](: The story of South Carolina will be one of missed opportunities for a field of candidates that failed to fully connect with the state's black electorate. That may be most true for former Vice President Joe Biden, who is well positioned to win the state but perhaps fall short of the kind of decisive victory that catapulted Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton to the Democratic nomination in 2008 and 2016, respectively. This is the first time since 2004 that no single candidate is poised to take the vast majority of the African American vote in a cakewalk. So, there should have been a premium this year on candidates courting black voters pocket by pocket to build a coalition. But polling suggests that, with the last election before Super Tuesday, that hasn't happened yet. Tonight, Brian Williams and Rachel Maddow are joined by Nicolle Wallace, Chris Matthews, Joy Reid, our panel of political experts, and Steve Kornacki at the big board. Watch special coverage of the South Carolina primary, tonight at 6 p.m. ET on MSNBC. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: VIDEOS [Image]( [Oregon officials announce first presumed case of coronavirus]( Rachel Maddow relays breaking news that health officials in Oregon have announced the state's first presumptive case of novel coronavirus, which would be the third community-spread case in the U.S. with no known origin. (Rachel Maddow) [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Image]( [Young voter recounts shifting parents from Biden to Sanders in S.C.]( A voter at a Bernie Sanders rally recounts how he persuaded his parents to shift from Biden to Sanders in the South Carolina primary, and how issues of "education and health care together” were crucial. (The Beat) [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Image]( [Trump renominates Rep. John Ratcliffe for intel chief, despite the fact GOP balked the first time]( Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, who sits on the House Intel Committee, reacts to the Ratcliffe nomination for Director of National Intelligence: "Is the intelligence community going to be led by someone who lives in the world of truth, or is it going to be someone who lives in the world of propaganda?" (The Last Word) [Facebook]( [Twitter]( MORE VIDEOS 'They just want our vote': South Carolina rural black voters worry their being used by candidates ([Trymaine Lee reports]() Charleston, SC on frontlines of climate crisis ([Cal Perry reports]() Bloomberg's billions backfire with some Dem voters ([The Beat with Ari]() Coronavirus fears cause stocks to plunge in worst week since 2008 financial crisis ([The Last Word]() Elizabeth Warren on Mike Pence leading the coronavirus response: ‘I cannot think of a worse person’ ([All In]() U.S. prep for coronavirus challenged by resource limitations ([Rachel Maddow]() Trump: Coronavirus will disappear one day ‘like a miracle’ ([Deadline: White House]() Trump calls coronavirus the Democrats' 'new hoax' as more cases are confirmed ([11th Hour]() QUOTE OF THE DAY [“It really sent a chill down my spine. Which is more dangerous: a virus, or a president who says that the coronavirus a 'hoax'? It's the most dangerous thing I've ever heard a president say in my lifetime.”]( —Michael Moore on the 11th Hour ([Video]() SUNDAY ON MSNBC Sunday, watch the third episode of MSNBC’s new original series, [What’s Eating America]( with Andrew Zimmern. In this episode, Zimmern, a recovering addict, reveals the growing problem of addiction in the restaurant business and explores how the industry can offer a path forward to those in recovery. Sunday at 9 p.m. Eastern on MSNBC. Tell us what you think of the news. [Drop us an e-mail.](mailto:msnbc.digital.editors@nbcuni.com?subject=MSNBC Daily) This newsletter was prepared for you by Stephanie Siek and Sam Go. Check out ["The Day That Was,"]( our primetime video recap. Were you forwarded this email from a friend? [Subscribe to the MSNBC Daily here](. [“Byers Market”](is a new podcast hosted by NBC News Senior Media Reporter Dylan Byers that takes us behind the scenes of the rapidly changing world of technology and media. In the first episode, which is available now, Dylan sits down one on one with Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg for her first interview since the release of “Facebook: The Inside Story”, the explosive new book by tech writer Steven Levy, who had unfettered access to Facebook’s headquarters for three years. [Image]( Follow MSNBC [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [YouTube]( [LinkedIn]( Check out the MSNBC channel on Apple News Download the NBC News Mobile App and watch MSNBC [Listen live to MSNBC on TuneIn]( [Image] [Image] [Privacy]( [Unsubscribe](listvar=sub_daily)